More than 7 million workers, or approximately 6 percent of the total United States labor force are currently employed in the U.S. construction industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared to other industries in the United States, construction workers experienced one of the highest occupational fatality rates and had the highest rate of injuries and illnesses resulting in lost work days. Of the total number of work-related deaths in 1996 (n=6210), 16.9% occurred among construction workers. The U.S. ranks second only to Japan in the rate of construction fatalities among developed countries. Young workers, particularly those under 18 years and those with less than two years of work experience are at risk for injury or death. In addition, injuries and illnesses among construction worker accounted for more than 15% of all workers' compensation costs. Falls cause the largest percentage (>30%) of work-related fatalities. Being struck by an object and musculoskeletal disorders account for more than 50% of all traumatic injuries; backs, hands/fingers and eyes are the parts of the body most affected. NIOSH, in partnership with researchers throughout the United States, is developing and evaluating a variety of methods to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses among construction workers. Because much of the traditional occupational safety and health research has been conducted in the manufacturing sector, which differs significantly from the construction environment, new prevention strategies, applicable to the construction industry, must be created. One approach is to enhance the awareness of health and safety problems in construction through the development and dissemination of educational programs as well as new training materials and methods that address the specific needs of the construction worker and the industry as a whole. Ibis presentation will describe the variety of training programs and informational products currently under development and being evaluated by NIOSH researchers and its partners. These include the creation of comprehensive, construction trade-specific health and safety curricula for vocational education programs, the development of respirator protection program handbooks for small businesses and contractors, the conduct and evaluation of the Fall-Safe Construction program, and the variety of programs targeted at the reduction of musculoskeletal disorders. Additional research is also being conducted to determine how construction workers and contractors receive and transfer occupational health and safety information. This research will also be described. While this research is directed towards health and safety in construction, the information derived can be applied to other U.S. industries which are beginning to operate more like the constructio:q. industry and its workforce. That is the greater use of independent contractors, nonunionized workers and a transient, rather than stable work environment.